Sara Adams – Summer II
NYCB’s Sara Adams joins us on June 16 to kick off Summer Session II. Click Here for Summer class information. We look forward to seeing you in the studio!
new haven ballet Tag
Congratulations!
On behalf of New Haven Ballet, we’d like to say congratulations to the dancers who performed brilliantly this weekend in the 2025 Spring Performances. We applaud your talent and artistry. Click here for some backstage photos. We look forward to seeing dancers over the summer.
Spring Performance
Don’t miss New Haven Ballet’s spring performances at the Shubert Theatre, 247 College Street, New Haven, on Saturday, May 24, at 1:00 and 5:00 p.m. Tickets start at $26 (plus a $4 Shubert restoration fee). The show’s running time is approximately 2 hours, including intermission. To purchase tickets, Click Here.
The performances will include:
Adventures in Wonderland featuring music by various composers and choreography by Artistic Director Lisa Kim Sanborn. We invite you to immerse yourself in this fully restaged, beloved children’s tale, showcasing all your favorite characters, including Alice, the Cheshire Cat, the Mad Hatter, and the Queen of Hearts. Students from New Haven Ballet School perform this fantastic children’s ballet, which boasts professional, larger-than-life sets and stunning costumes. It reminds us that returning home is often the best part of experiencing exciting adventures. The performance premiered at the Shubert Theatre in New Haven on May 17, 2017.
La Bayadère, Kingdom of Shades, is a classical ballet that premiered in 1877 and remains a staple of the global classical ballet repertoire. Ludwig Minkus composed the music for the ballet, and the New Haven Ballet Company, a student company, will perform choreography inspired by Marius Petipa’s original work. This ballet features guest artist William Gutierrez as “Solor.”
Caprice Nos. 4 and 5 feature music composed by Polina Nazaykinskaya and are brilliantly performed by Nathaniel Strothkamp. This neo-classical ballet, choreographed by Artistic Director Lisa Kim Sanborn and presented by the New Haven Ballet Company, premiered at the Whitney Arts Center in New Haven in the spring of 2021.
Shared Ability, led by Kerry Kincy, will present a dance created by young artists with disabilities.
2024 – What a Year!
Dear Friends,
We enjoyed a spectacular 2024, welcoming many new and visiting students. During a premiere two-week sleep-away ballet intensive, we trained advanced-level dancers from Connecticut, New York, and Pennsylvania. These dancers performed excerpts from Le Corsaire at the Paul Mellon Arts Center in Wallingford. This was followed by the opening of our newest satellite location in Hamden this fall.
We expanded our Open Division and introduced many recreational dancers to the joys of ballet.
This year’s Nutcracker was bigger and better than ever, thanks to new sets, choreography, guest artists, and costumes. We also introduced a new audience of young students throughout Greater New Haven to the magic of live theater with a Children’s Matinee.
Thanks to donor and partner support, over 1,000 children from throughout Greater New Haven attended The Nutcracker Children’s Matinee at the Shubert Theatre. For many, it was their first time seeing a live performance in a theater.
Looking forward to 2025, the Ballet announced auditions for Adventures in Wonderland and the New Haven Ballet Company. We cannot wait to return to the studios on January 6, 2025, to plan our upcoming Shared Ability and DanceAIR workshops.
We thank our families, students, staff, Board, faculty, friends, and partners for supporting New Haven Ballet. We invite you to join us as we continue to bring superior programming and performances to the community.
We hope you will celebrate our incredible arts education and performances. When considering end-of-year gifts, please remember New Haven Ballet. Click Here to Donate.
On behalf of the New Haven Ballet, we wish you all the Happiest of New Year’s and look forward to seeing you soon.
Yours sincerely,
All of Us at New Haven Ballet
Your support is critical for 501(c)(3) nonprofit arts organizations like New Haven Ballet to offer superior training, scholarships, performing opportunities, and community programs and performances. Thank you for an incredible 2024!
Auditions for Adventures in Wonderland
Artistic Director Lisa Kim Sanborn has announced auditions for New Haven Ballet’s upcoming performances of Adventures in Wonderland and the New Haven Ballet Company.
Children ages 4 to 19 who are enrolled for the entire 2025 Spring Term in either the Children’s or Student Divisions may audition for roles in the performances, which will be presented at the Shubert Theatre New Haven on Saturday, May 25,
at 1:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m.
The Nutcracker Performs This Weekend
‘THE NUTCRACKER’ IS THIS WEEKEND!
New Haven Ballet is working at the theater to prepare everything for the show. We are excited to share a few photos from dress rehearsal. If you look closely, you can see some of the new sets we will be debuting on Friday. We hope you will join us in seeing the show!
GET YOUR TICKETS NOW
Tickets are going fast for New Haven Ballet’s The Nutcracker at The Shubert Theatre New Haven. The mezzanine is now open for the Saturday and Sunday shows.
Friday, December 13 @ 7 pm
Saturday, December 14 @ 1 pm and 5 pm
Sunday, December 15 @ 1 pm
Please note: to avoid the high fees charged by third-party ticket vendors, please buy directly from The Shubert.
Tickets start at $30 (plus a $5 Shubert Restoration Fee).
November Studio Update
We are working hard in the studio, perfecting choreography and preparing costumes for our upcoming Nutcracker performances.
We are sharing a few photos of our time in the studio with some Level 6-8 students rehearsing the Waltz of the Snowflakes and one of our Levels 1 and 2 classes. We applaud their hard work and hope you will consider joining us at the Shubert Theatre from December 13 to 15, 2024!
Thank you to everyone who made calls and donated to the Annual Appeal. If you still want to donate, there is still time to do so.
Annual Appeal
Dear Friends and Families,
With great enthusiasm, I thank you for being part of the New Haven Ballet community. The Ballet is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides excellent dance training by a fantastic faculty, professional-quality performances, and incredible outreach opportunities, all aimed at nurturing the love of dance throughout Greater New Haven.
This year, we are enlisting the help of some wonderful volunteers to strengthen the ties within our community and assist with our Annual Appeal fundraising efforts. We hope you will speak with some of our volunteers to learn how New Haven Ballet impacts the various members of the community. We will be letting you know more soon.
Your inclusion in our family is invaluable. Your support through our fundraising efforts is vital; it’s the lifeblood of our organization. We can only provide exceptional programs with the funding we receive through donations because tuition and ticket sales do not cover our expenses.
Please help us spread the joy of dance throughout the community with our Annual Appeal through November 15th. For your convenience, New Haven Ballet now accepts payment through Venmo.
I am deeply grateful for your time, consideration, and, most importantly, your support. Because of your donations, we can continue to bring the joy of dance to Greater New Haven.
Yours sincerely,
Lisa Kim Sanborn, Artistic Director
Fall is Here!
New Haven Ballet extends a warm welcome and welcome back to new and veteran students. Classes have begun, and students are working hard. Training in the graded curriculum starts in Levels 1 and 2. Teachers provide excellent technical and artistic foundational work, stressing proper alignment and execution. Students in Levels 3 and 4 continue their technical development and acquire knowledge of ballet vocabulary. In Levels 5 and 6, we foster artistic and technical excellence. In Levels 7 and 8, our dancers build on their strong classical technique, clean lines, and artistry. We offer boys and girls the highest caliber of classical ballet training in the region, including pointe, partnering, and repertory.
Training is enhanced by diverse workshops and classes, incorporating classical, Neo-classical, contemporary, lyrical, Broadway, and carefully curated conditioning and stretch classes. Students who wish to pursue professional careers in dance may take advantage of fantastic performance opportunities, including a student company, to facilitate reaching their potential and making maximum progress while engaging in an immersive dance experience shared with others who are as passionate about dance as they are. Intermediate and advanced-level students have the added opportunity to work with incredible guest faculty throughout the year. This fall, we welcome New York City Ballet’s Ruby Lister and Savannah Durham and returning guest faculty member Alejandro Ulloa.
Nutcracker Auditions are open to all students enrolled for the fall semester in Creative Ballet I-Level 8 on September 21-22, 2024.
At New Haven Ballet, our commitment to continuous improvement is unwavering. We understand the importance of a holistic approach to education in our training program, and we strive to provide a nurturing environment for our students. We welcome new students. Please get in touch with us to schedule a placement class.
Photo: (c) 2024 Kelsey Paff Photography
2024 Fall Special
AGES 3-8: ONE MONTH OF BALLET FOR $75
3-8-year-olds may participate in a month of introduction to ballet at New Haven Ballet from August 26-September 28, 2024, for $75.
With a legacy of over thirty-five years, the New Haven Ballet sets the standard for classical dance training throughout Greater New Haven. New Haven Ballet provides the best training for young dancers, employing a gentle curriculum that results in dancers known for their excellent technique, clean lines, and beautiful artistry.
This is a fantastic opportunity as there is nothing like the joy experienced while moving to music; having a strong classical technique is essential for all dancers. Moreover, children who engage in the arts tend to perform better in math, reading, and writing. Ballet also helps children develop motor, social-emotional, cognitive, and multisensory skills. Children who continue arts education in elementary school and beyond may demonstrate increased brain development and self-esteem.
For those in 3K Pre-Kindergarten, New Haven Ballet’s 1st Steps class allows young dancers to celebrate their creativity as a fundamental movement to music and support of basic motor skills are introduced.
The 1st Steps class meets on Monday from 11:15-12:00 p.m. in Bethany and Saturday mornings from 9:00-9:45 a.m. in New Haven.
For those in 4K Pre-Kindergarten, New Haven Ballet’s Creative Ballet I class promotes the growth of young dancers’ natural creativity, focusing on motor skill development and musical awareness.
Choice of classes for Creative Ballet I:
Monday at 3:00-3:45 p.m. in Bethany
Tuesday at 4:45-5:30 p.m. in Branford
Wednesday at 4:00-4:45 p.m. in New Haven
Thursday at 4:30-5:15 p.m. in Hamden
Saturday at 9:45-10:30 a.m. in New Haven
For those in Kindergarten, New Haven Ballet’s Creative Ballet II class continues to promote the expansion of natural creativity with an increased focus on motor skill development and musical awareness.
Choice of classes for Creative Ballet II:
Monday at 3:00-3:45 p.m. in Bethany
Tuesday at 4:45-5:30 p.m. in Branford
Wednesday at 4:00-4:45 p.m. in New Haven
Thursday at 4:30-5:15 p.m. in Hamden
Saturday at 10:30-11:15 a.m. in New Haven
For those in 1st Grade, New Haven Ballet’s Pre-Ballet class introduces more formal classical ballet training, using age-appropriate ballet vocabulary and movement.
Choice of classes for Pre-Ballet:
Monday at 3:45-4:45 p.m. in Bethany
Tuesday at 5:30-6:15 p.m. in Branford
Wednesday at 4:45-5:30 p.m. in New Haven
Thursday at 5:15-6:00 p.m. in Hamden
Saturday at 11:15-12:00 p.m. in New Haven
For those in 2nd Grade, New Haven Ballet’s Primary class introduces more formal classical ballet training, preparing students to enter the student division and a graded curriculum.
Choice of classes for Primary:
Monday at 3:45-4:45 p.m. in Bethany
Tuesday at 5:30-6:15 p.m. in Branford
Wednesday at 5:30-6:30 p.m. in New Haven
Thursday at 5:15-6:00 p.m. in Hamden
Saturday at 12:00-1:00 p.m. in New Haven
The fall is a great time to make new friends and try something new! Space is limited. This offer is available on a first-come, first-served basis for students at least three and under nine years old on or before August 26, 2024. The offer has no monetary value and may not be substituted, revised, exchanged, or extended. For more information, Tel. at 203-782-9038 or email administrator@newhavenballet.org.
New Haven Ballet was founded in 1985 as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit community-based ballet school in New Haven, Connecticut.
Photo: (c) 2024 Kelsey Paff Photography
Nutcracker Audition
New Haven Ballet announces auditions for The Nutcracker are September 21-22, 2024, at 70 Audubon Street, New Haven, Connecticut. Dancers enrolled in Creative Ballet I, Creative Ballet II, Pre-Ballet, Primary, and Levels 1-8 at New Haven Ballet are encouraged to audition. Everyone who auditions gets a part and an opportunity to perform in one or more performances with New York City Ballet’s Sara Adams and Harrison Coll December 13-15 at the Shubert Theatre New Haven. Click Here for more information.
